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Maroc (Rif), août 2005
Morocco (Rif), August 2005

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Citation - Quote

The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express.
Francis Bacon

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Morocco said to produce nearly half of the world's hashish supply
Pierre-Arnaud Chouvy, Jane's Intelligence Review, Vol. 17, N° 11, 1 November 2005 (Part one).

Morocco's smuggling rackets: hashish, people and contraband
Pierre-Arnaud Chouvy, Jane's Intelligence Review, Vol. 17, N° 12, 1 December 2005 (Part two).

Moroccan Roll
Pierre-Arnaud Chouvy, June 2006

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Cannabis: la plante
The cannabis plant

Français

"Le cannabis est le nom latin du chanvre, utilisé par abus de langage pour désigner le chanvre indien (Cannabis sativa ssp indica). Il est aussi connu (en tant que stupéfiant) sous le nom de marijuana ou, pour sa résine sous le nom de haschich (arabe: foin; herbe) ; c'est l'une des différentes plantes dont le principe actif principal est le delta-9 tétrahydrocannabinol, ou THC. Le cannabis fait partie de la famille des Cannabinacées, et de l'ordre des Urticales. Il pousse sous la majorité des climats. La fibre résistante du cannabis porte le nom de chanvre et trouve de nombreuses applications, y compris la fabrication de vêtements, de corde et de papier. Le mot latin cannabis vient du grec kánnabis, « chanvre » ; le mot grec pourrait être un emprunt au scythe ou au thrace, voire au sumérien kunibu". Source : Wikipédia.

English

"The genus Cannabis was formerly placed with nettles in the family Urticaceae or with mulberries in the family Moraceae, but is now considered along with hops (Humulus sp.) to belong to the family Cannabaceae. Whether the different strains of Cannabis constitute a single species (Cannabis sativa L.) or multiple species has been a contentious issue for well over two centuries.

Ernest Small conducted a taxonomic investigation of Cannabis and concluded that there is only a single species with two subspecies, sativa and indica, each divisible into a cultivated and a wild variety. According to this concept, C. sativa subsp. sativa was selected for traits that enhance fiber or seed production and has low levels of the psychoactive delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), whereas C. sativa subsp. indica was primarily selected for drug production and has relatively high levels of THC.

Botanists Richard E. Schultes and Loran Anderson also conducted taxonomic studies of Cannabis, and concluded that sufficient evidence exists to support recognition of three species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica Lam., and Cannabis ruderalis. According to their species descriptions, C. sativa is tall and laxly branched with relatively narrow leaflets, Cannabis indica is shorter, conical in shape, and has relatively wide leaflets, and Cannabis ruderalis is short, branchless, and grows wild in central Asia. This concept was embraced by Cannabis aficionados who commonly distinguish narrow-leafed "sativa" drug strains from wide-leafed "indica" drug strains.

A recent study of genetic variation in Cannabis supports recognition of C. sativa and C. indica as separate species, although the existance of a third species, "C. ruderalis", is less certain. This study assigned hemp (fiber/seed) landraces and feral populations from Europe, central Asia, and Asia Minor to C. sativa. Cannabis indica includes both narrow-leafed and wide-leafed drug strains, as well as southern and eastern Asian hemp strains and feral Himalayan populations". Source : Wikipedia.

1. Sommitée fleurie ("tête") d'un plant de cannabis
Cannabis inflorescence

2. Gros plan d'une sommité d'un plant de cannabis.
Close-up of a cannabis inflorescence.

3. Sommité d'un plant de cannabis (non mûr)
Cannabis inflorescences (unripe)

4. Sommité d'un plant de cannabis (non mûr)
Cannabis inflorescence (unripe)

5. Gros plan d'une sommité d'un plant de cannabis (non mûr)
Close-up of a cannabis inflorescence (unripe)

6. Gros plan de cannabis (kif) séché
Close-up of dried cannabis (kif)

7. Champ de cannabis de nuit - Cannabis field by night

8. Champ de cannabis sous la pleine lune
Cannabis field under the full moon

9. Champ de cannabis sous la pleine lune
Cannabis field by moon light

More on cannabis and hashish in the Rif Mountains of Morocco:

Morocco said to produce nearly half of the world's hashish supply
Pierre-Arnaud Chouvy, Jane's Intelligence Review, Vol. 17, N° 11, 1 November 2005 (Part one).

Morocco's smuggling rackets: hashish, people and contraband
Pierre-Arnaud Chouvy, Jane's Intelligence Review, Vol. 17, N° 12, 1 December 2005 (Part two).

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Nouvelles photos du Maroc (2006)
New Photos of Morocco (2006)

Un itinéraire marocain (2006)
A Moroccan itinerary (2006)

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